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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Lakeland Georgia

Lakeland GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Lakeland GA might at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Lakeland GA

cat with cone after surgery in Lakeland GA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Lakeland GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lakeland GA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Lakeland

student attending online vet tech school in Lakeland GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lakeland GA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Lakeland GA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Lakeland GA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Lakeland GA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Lakeland GA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Lakeland GA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Lakeland GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Lakeland GA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Lakeland GA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lakeland GA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lakeland GA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lakeland GA?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Lakeland Georgia area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Lakeland, Georgia

Lakeland is a city in Lanier County, Georgia, United States. The city is the county seat of Lanier County.[4] It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,730 at the 2000 census.

Originally called Alapaha and then Milltown or Mill Town, Lakeland received its current name in 1925 in honor of its proximity to Grand Bay Lake, Lake Irma, and Banks Lake.[5] For many years, Lakeland owned and operated its own railroad.

Numerous festivals are held in the county throughout each year, one of which is the Flatlanders Frolic Arts and Crafts Show. This event features bluegrass music, a road race and various other Labor Day weekend events. Also held in Lanier County is the Living Murals Celebration, held in the spring, and most recently the Georgia Deep Woods Deerfest, a festival featuring wild game suppers and firearms giveaways.

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Lakeland GA

Lakeland GA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lakeland GA.